Antisemitism Shadows NYC Teachers Union Election

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT), New York City’s second-largest union, is set to hold an election at the end of this month. Unfortunately, since October 7, 2023, the New York City public schools have had their share of antisemitic activity.  

 For context, the UFT is NYC’s second-largest union, boasting 200,000 members. Their taxpayer-funded UFT Welfare Fund has a whopping $400 million. The union includes teachers, administrators, and even some nurses from private hospitals. Whoever is at the helm will have a lot of responsibility.

 Currently, Michael Mulgrew, the six-term president, is contested by two radicals whose history should be a source of concern for Jewish educators and all people who care about keeping public schools as places where children of all backgrounds have a safe and inclusive learning environment. The two challengers are Olivia Swisher from ARISE and Amy Arundell from A Better Contract (ABC), who have each, respectively, had questionable ties to radical groups or made antisemitic comments.

 According to New York Post reporting, Amy Arundell, the ABC candidate, “a former Queens borough representative to the UFT who was removed from her position in October 2023 following a public spat with current union leader Michael Mulgrew over the union’s resolution to condemn the October 7, 2023 terrorist strikes on Israel, which left 1,200 Israelis dead.” Additionally, she posted on her now-deleted Twitter account, “Zionists are literally the most evil people to walk this earth.”

 ARISE’s leadership is not much better. Olivia Swisher, their candidate, has links to the radical group, The People’s Forum, and was seen and photographed at a 2022 meeting of the group. For those unfamiliar, The People’s Forum is, according to their website, “a movement incubator for working class and marginalized communities to build unity across historic lines of division at home and abroad.”  This “incubator for working class” hosted a Land Day 2025 event inviting participants to, “Join us in the streets in New York City to assert the right of every Palestinian to remain and return to Palestine!” with the hashtag #ShutItDownforPalestine.

 This antisemitic activity does not operate in a vacuum. In April of this year, the New York Department of Education had to apologize after an antisemitic newsletter was sent to public schools that, according to The Jewish Chronicle, contained a document bearing the official New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) logo. The newsletter included a bullet point reading “guidelines for teaching about genocide,” which linked to a Google Doc titled “stop Gaza genocide toolkit.”

 In May 2024, several groups, including NYC Educators for Palestine, the Palestine Youth Movement, Al-Awda NY, Movement of MORE Rank-&-File Educators, and Desis Rising Up and Moving, organized a pro-Palestinian walkout, reports the New York Post.

 This is especially a point of concern given that, according to a study commissioned by the Gevura Fund, “More than 40% of workers believe the amount of discrimination against Jews has increased over the past year or so.”  Just as students deserve a respectful learning environment, educators deserve a respectful workplace.

 New York City is home to 1.4 million Jews, the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel. And New York City public schools are among some of the most diverse in our country. U.S. News & World Report shares the following statistics: New York City is 14.2% white, 23.8% Black, 16% Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander, 41.5% Hispanic/Latino, 1.2% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.4% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

 Put simply, New York City Public Schools serve students of all backgrounds (as all public schools do). The teachers and educators responsible for teaching students should belong to a union, and teach in a system, run by people who can respect students of all backgrounds.